Two Indian weightlifters will be representing India for London Olympics one each in men's and women's section after their performance in the Senior Asian Championships at Pyeongtaek in South Korea. Among the two weightlifters is Ngangbam Soniya Chanu a promising weightlifter from Manipur's Haoreibi in Imphal West district. She will be competing in 48 kg category.

The Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF) gave Soniya Chanu nod to represent the country along Ravi kumar in the London Olympics 2012 which is scheduled to begin from July 28. Experienced lifter Sonia is one of India's best bet for a gold medal in the 48kg class at the London Games.
India finished fifth in the men's team standings with 134 points and fourth in the women's section with 93 points to earn the quota places.

2009: Gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Malaysia

2010: Gold medal at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship in Cape Town, South Africa

2010: Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India

2012: Bronze medal in the Senior Asian Championships at Pyeongtaek, South Korea.

Soniya Chanu, who missed the gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, is all set to give her best to win an Olympic medal. Soniya's first love was athletics as the Manipuri sprinter won many medals for her state in the junior national meets in early days of her sporting career.

She practiced athletics under Y. Nimai from their same locality when she attains the age of 10/11 years and played for five years. Later after learning that many weightlifters of the state won medals at the national and international level she shifted to the game of weightlifting in 1997. She first seek the knowledge of weightlifting from SAG weightlifting coach L. Ranjan of Herangoithong.

Till 1999 she represented Manipur in weightlifting but later on shifted her base to Uttar Pradesh and represented UP in national level championships. In recognition of her performance she was offered the post of Sub-inspector in UP police. Presently, she is promoted to the rank of DSP in UP police but due to her hectic schedule engaged in preparing for London Olympics she has not submitted her joining report till today.

Soniya's father Meino Singh said 'we are proud that our daughter has been selected to represent India in the London Olympics and we are confident that she will atleast win a medal if not gold but it depends God too. Soniya has never lost in weightlifting even though she didn't fare well in athletics.'

While recalling the days when Soniya started playing, Meino further said that he has never let down the wishes of his children but instead encourage them besides the hardships being faced by his family. His family has to depend on a pair of ox to encourage his children in sports as well as their studies.

During day, he works for others to earn livelihood, while during the night till 11 pm he was engaged in works at home. Even though Soniya was with Manipur chapter of Special Area Games while playing in Manipur, her father was worried at the attitude of SAG because the family have to bear a lot for Soniya in every step.

The government has made a low contribution towards encouraging the players. Each family has to bear their responsibility while the players have dedicated for the state.
Ngangbam Soniya Chanu is the last of seven siblings among two sons and five daughters.

* Daniel Chabungbam provided this information to e-pao.net
The writer is presently working as Manipur Correspondent of guwahati based Frontier TV 24 x 7 news channel
This article was posted on July 12, 2012.

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